Joaquin looking less threatening to Outer Banks,
but is still a dangerous storm

By CATHERINE KOZAK

Although Hurricane Joaquin looked a lot
less threatening to the North Carolina coast as of late Thursday afternoon,
Outer Banks officials remain concerned nonetheless about potentially
dangerous soundside flooding, torrential rainfall, and punishing
ocean surf as the storm moves north off the coast over the weekend.

An evacuation order was issued for
Ocracoke Island at 3 p.m., and ferries are expected to be relocated
to safe harbor until Joaquin moves past the Outer Banks late in the
weekend or early next week.

As of the 5 p.m. update from the
National Hurricane Center, Joaquin was a powerful Category 4
hurricane, with 130 mph winds that were expected to increase to about
140 mph as it passes the Bahamas. The barometric pressure was down
to 936 mb, and the storm was located 15 miles northwest of Crooked
Island in the Bahamas, moving southwest at 6 mph.

But the hurricane's track was showing
indications of a move toward the right -- more out to sea -– as it
moves north along the East Coast. If the track continues into the
night, that is good news for the Outer Banks.

“We’ve become more optimistic now
about the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic,” Rick Knabb, director of
the National Hurricane Center, said in a report on The Weather
Channel.

Knabb said that although the “cone”
had changed from earlier Thursday, forecasters wanted to hold off
before saying that the storm was going to stay offshore.

But no matter its track, the hurricane
center warns that Joaquin remains dangerous and is likely to cause
significant coastal flooding, powerful winds, catastrophic rainfall,
and storm surge. A flood watch has already been issued for the
coastal areas.

“Even if Joaquin moves out to sea,
strong onshore winds associated with a frontal system will create
minor to moderate coastal flooding along the coasts of the
mid-Atlantic and northeastern states through the weekend,” the
Hurricane Center said. “In addition, very heavy rains, not
associated with Joaquin, are expected to produce flooding over
portions of the Atlantic coastal states.”

Casey Dail, a Weather Service
forecaster in Morehead City, said Thursday that the degree of
soundside flooding on the Outer Banks will depend on the storm track,
but it is expected to range from moderate to severe.

“Probably by this time tomorrow,”
she said at about 4:30 p.m., “we’ll be able to have a lot more
confidence in the track.”

An upper level low moving along the
Gulf Coast will continue to exert influence on the North Carolina
coast for several more days, Dail said, and a cold front that is
sitting off the East Coast will also affect coastal conditions
through the weekend – although she said that storm is not as much
of a factor now.

Also on Thursday, Gov. Pat McCrory
declared a state of emergency for all 100 counties in the state. The
state is preparing for widespread flooding and falling trees, hazards
exacerbated by already saturated ground.

“Regardless of the impacts of
Hurricane Joaquin,” Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry said in a
press release, ”North Carolina has the potential for
life-threatening flooding.”

Search and rescue teams, National Guard
soldiers, Highway Patrol troopers and state Department of
Transportation crews have been mobilized, according to the release.

Dare County officials met Thursday
morning to plan for possible impacts, which are likely to include
roadside flooding and possible power outages. Another meeting is
planned for Friday morning, when more will be known about the storm’s
track.

Local officials urged residents to take
steps to protect their property and stock up with three days of
provisions in the event of storm damage or power failures.

Earlier Thursday, the National Park
Service cancelled a public meeting in Buxton to review its beach
nourishment plan. Park Service facilities and campgrounds were
closed at noon, and beaches will be closed to ORV traffic at 5 p.m.
Friday.

Ferry evacuation off Ocracoke Island
began at 3 p.m. Tolls were suspended on routes between Swan Quarter
and Cedar Island, and reservations on those routes were cancelled.
Residents, property owners and vendors will be allowed on
Ocracoke-bound ferries on Thursday and Friday only.

NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE INFORMATION

The Outer Banks Group of National Parks
-- Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic
Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial -- have begun the initial
implementation of the Group’s hurricane plan in anticipation of the
approach of Hurricane Joaquin.

The Park Service began closing
facilities at noon today:

All NPS campgrounds -- Ocracoke,
Frisco, Cape Point and Oregon Inlet -- began closing at noon today
and will remain closed until further notice. The Ocracoke
Recreation.gov campground reservation system has been temporarily
suspended.

Silver Lake Marina NPS rented
docks closed at noon today..

Ocracoke, Hatteras Island and
Bodie Island NPS Visitor Centers also closed at noon and will remain
closed until further notice. Wright Brothers National Memorial and
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site will be closed Friday, Oct. 2.
All previously scheduled evening programs are cancelled as of
Thursday, Oct. 1 until further notice.

Climbing at the Cape Hatteras
Lighthouse closed at noon today and will remain closed until further
notice. All park special programs scheduled have been cancelled
until further notice.

Climbing at the Bodie Island
Lighthouse closed at noon today.

All NPS beaches will be closed to
off-road vehicles by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and remain closed
until further notice.

All
schedules are subject to change or cancellation due to tide, wind,
and other weather conditions. The Ferry Division strongly encourages
Ocracoke residents to evacuate as soon as possible, as conditions may
deteriorate faster than forecast.

After
evacuation procedures are complete, the Ferry Division will be
mooring all of its vessels in safe harbor. Following the storm,
re-entry requirements will be established by Hyde and Dare counties
and enforced by local and state law enforcement agencies stationed at
ferry terminals. The Ferry Division

All
schedules are subject to change or cancellation due to tide, wind,
and other weather conditions. The Ferry Division strongly encourages
Ocracoke residents to evacuate as soon as possible, as conditions may
deteriorate faster than forecast.

After
evacuation procedures are complete, the Ferry Division will be
mooring all of its vessels in safe harbor. Following the storm,
re-entry requirements will be established by Hyde and Dare counties
and enforced by local and state law enforcement agencies stationed at
ferry terminals. The Ferry Division is also prepared to establish its
emergency route between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe in the event of a
Highway 12 breach on Hatteras Island.

WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFORMATION

For the latest weather update,
advisories, watches, and warning, go the website of The Weather
Service in Newport, N.C., at www. www.weather.gov/mhx.

The North Carolina Department of
Transportation will provide real-time information about weather and
travel conditions through its Twitter feed, @NCDOT. Regional Twitter
feeds are available @NCDOT_Ncoast and @NCDOT_NC12. As the storm
approaches, the department will send out tweets about road closures,
flooding and evacuation routes. Updates regarding N.C. 12 can also be
found on the NCDOT
N.C. 12 Facebook page.